Our Procedures

Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty)

The nose is the centerpiece of the face. Achieving balance between the appearance of the nose and the surrounding bony structure is an important part of overall harmony in the face.

Rhinoplasty involves reducing prominent portions of the bony or cartilaginous structure of the nose. Rhinoplasty incision often involves placing grafts to improve contour of the “nose bridge “ or refinement of the the tip.

• Improve profile with even proportions between height and weight of the nose.
• Nasal tip that is enlarged or bulbous, drooping, upturned or hooked.
• Nostrils that are large, wide, or upturned.
• Nasal asymmetry.

Additionally breathing problems caused by abnormalities of the nasal passages can be addressed at the time of rhinoplasty with procedures such as spreader graft or other cartilaginous grafts. These grafts may be obtained from the nose itself, rib cartilage, or a small area behind the ears.

Liposuction

Suction lipectomy is an excellent procedure for patients who are close to their ideal body weight, but have small areas of stubborn fat which does not resolve with exercise. Liposuction is not a substitute for healthy living and is not a weight loss procedure. Common areas where good results can be obtained by liposuction include:

– Thighs
– Hips and buttocks
– Abdomen and waist
– Upper arms
– Brassiere back roll
– Cheeks, chin and neck in certain well selected patients.

Selecting appropriate patients for this procedure is the most important part of ensuring a good result.

Injectable Fillers

 

Fillers are used to replenish loss volume or fill deep lines in the face.

The fillers used in our practice include:

• Radiesse
• Juvederm
• Restylane
• Belotero

Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is a condition of over-developed or enlarged breasts in men that can occur at any age. The condition can be the result of hormonal changes, heredity, obesity, or the use of certain drugs.

Gynecomastia can cause emotional discomfort and impair your self confidence. Some men may even avoid certain physical activities and intimacy simply to hide their condition.

Gynecomastia is characterized by:

– Excess localized fat.
– Excess glandular tissue development.
– Sometimes excess breast skin.
– Presence unilaterally (one breast) or bilaterally (both breasts).

Forehead Lift

A Forehead lift, commonly known as a brow lift:

– Reduces the wrinkle lines that develop horizontally across the forehead, as well as those that occur on the bridge of the nose, between the eyes
– Improves frown lines, the vertical creases that develop between the eyebrows
– Raises sagging brows that are hooding the upper eyelids
– Places the eyebrows in an alert and youthful position

Fat Injections

At this time Bahamas Plastic Surgery utilizes a fat injection for fat loss as a result of the natural aging process. The hands can also be rejuvenated utilizing this procedure. Other areas were small volumes of fat may be utilized with good effect include the Buttocks and areas where there might be a contour irregularity due to previous surgery or trauma. Fat survival may be unreliable, however new techniques are developing to enhance fat survival and allows results of the procedure to be more predictable.

Abdominoplasty

Tummy tuck surgery, also known as abdominoplasty, removes excess skin and small amounts of excess fat. Conservative liposuction can be combined with abdominoplasty in certain circumstances. Abdominoplasty can also repair weakened or separated muscles near the mid-line, creating a more well contoured abdomen.

Abdominoplasty is not a substitute for healthy living. We recommend a healthy diet combined with some form of aerobic exercise a few times per week. In this way your body recovers more quickly from surgery and a better overall result is obtained.

Abdominal wall laxity is often seen as a result of:

– Aging.
– Pregnancy (especially large pregnancy such as twins or large babies).
– Previous surgery.
– Significant weight loss or fluctuations in weight.

Botox

Botulinum toxin is a substance and is injected in very small amounts. It causes muscles in the face, such as frown muscles to “take a six-month vacation”. Bacteria which could ordinarily produce the botulinum toxin in nature are not found in Botox injections.

Commonly known types of botulinum toxin type A injections include Botox and Dysport.

Botulinum toxin can be used to help smooth:

– Crow’s feet at the sides of the eyes.
– Forehead furrows.
– Frown lines.
– Skin bands on the neck.
– Injection of Botox into such he areas such as on the arms, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet can help with excessive sweating.

Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation surgery involves using breast implants to increase the size of your breasts or restore breast volume that has been lost after weight reduction or pregnancy. Breast augmentation is clinically referred to as augmentation mammaplasty.

Breast augmentation can:

– Improve upperpole fullness, projection, and cleavage.
– Improve yourself image and level of confidence.
– Balance out proportions between upper and lower body.

Dr. Neil’s technique for this procedure is done by placing a small incision under the arm and placing the implants under the muscle to give the breast a more natural look and feel. No scars are usually placed on the breast, below the breasts, or near the nipple areola complex. Exceptions may be made in a few special circumstances.

Procedure: Performed under General Anesthetic in hospital

Hospital stay: Out patient

Recovery: One-two weeks off work, garment/bra for 5 weeks. Massage techniques usually begin one week after surgery. If your job requires physical activity, a longer recovery period might be necessary.

Note that some doctors will tell you that you can “recover in a day or two”. Too much early activity can cause bleeding at the surgical site, fluid collection, infections, or bad scarring. Beware of surgical Centers who do not emphasize rest after surgery. Rest after surgery expedites his healing and therefore early return to function. Taking time to heal is an investment in your future.

Breast Lift

A breast lift, also known as mastopexy, places the breast skin and soft tissue into the correct position behind nipple.

This procedure is appropriate for people whose nipple areola complex is lower than normal (breast ptosis). There is also a condition known as pseudoptosis where the nipple may be close to the correct position however the breast tissue behind it has descended to an abnormally low position.

Causes of breast ptosis include pregnancy, significant weight loss, prolonged breast-feeding, or insufficient support of the breasts with gravity taking its effect over time.

If there is ptosis or pseudoptosis, a breast lift will reposition the breast tissue and nipple areola complex into the correct position. A fine-line scar around the nipple can be expected and either a vertical scar running below the nipple or an inverted T-shaped scar with the horizontal portion hidden in the crease below the Breast.

Sometimes the areola becomes enlarged over time, and a breast lift will reduce this as well.

Breast Reduction

Also known as reduction mammaplasty, breast reduction surgery removes excess breast fat, glandular tissue and skin to achieve a breast size in proportion with your body and to alleviate the discomfort associated with overly large breasts.

Dr. Neil is well known for using the modified Passot technique (also described by Ribeiro) resulting in no vertical scar below the nipple. A longer lasting result is achieved by using the excess skin as your own internal brassiere. Less visible scarring is an additional advantage of this procedure.

Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction is achieved through several plastic surgery techniques that attempt to restore a breast to near normal shape, appearance, and size following mastectomy.

Breast reconstruction is a procedure available to women who have lost a breast due to mastectomy for cancer or women at high risk for breast cancer. These individuals may want to take a preventative measure against the disease. Populations such as the Bahamas with a higher incidence of the Genes related to the onset of breast cancer are seeing an increase in the number of women who choose to prophylactically remove both breasts and have immediate reconstruction. This removes the need for intense surveillance over a lifetime with the constant threat of disease.

Through breast reconstruction, a new breast mound similar to a natural breast is created. Breast reconstruction can be performed immediately after mastectomy or as a separate surgery months or years after the Mastectomy or lumpectomy has been performed.

Procedure: Performed under General Anaesthetic in hospital

Hospital Stay: Implant 1-2 days, TRAM or back flap – 3-4 days

Recovery: Implant – 6 weeks, TRAM or back flap – 6-12 weeks

Garment for 6 weeks and bruising and swelling for two to three weeks

Technique

Breast reconstruction is a two-step procedure. The first step is to reconstruct the breast mound to the proper size and shape. One method for doing this uses the patient’s own abdominal tissues (the Transverse Rectus Abdominus Myocutaneous Flap method or “TRAM” ).

One advantage of TRAM flap breast reconstruction is that some of the abdominal tissue similar to tummy tuck is utilized to reconstruct the breast. Improved abdominal contour can be expected.

Another method uses an implant filled with silicone or saline. Once the breast mound has been created, the nipple-areolar complex is made, using local flaps of skin and medical tattooing or skin-graft to create the desired color.

Once the new breast has been reconstructed, the opposite breast may need to be lifted, reduced or augmented in order to achieve a similar appearance.

At Bahamas Plastic Surgery we believe that immediate breast reconstruction is a very good alternative for women faced with the prospect of mastectomy. Waking up with a newly reconstructed breast mound may reduce some of the anxiety associated with breast cancer surgery. Bilateral mastectomy and immediate bilateral breast reconstruction is also a commonly performed procedure

Brow Lift

A brow lift, also known as a forehead lift:

Reduce frown lines in the forehead and laugh lines in the area beside the eye.
Improves eyebrow position and often helps with loose folds of skin in the upper lid.
Places the eyebrows in an alert and youthful position.

Eyelid Lift

Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure to improve the appearance of the eyelids.

Surgery can be performed on either the upper and lower lids, or both. Most candidates notice a feeling of weight as extra skin rests on the upper lids. Functional problems such as inability to completely open the eye or reduced ability to see the upper visual field.

Specifically, eyelid surgery can treat:

• Loose folds of skin in the upper or lower lid.
• Fatty collections in the upper or lower lid which causes it to bulge or appear puffy.
• Bags under the eyes.
• Laxity of the lower lid which causes a”staring” appearance (scleral show… white part of the eye showing between the lower lid and the pupil.
• Exposure of the eye and irritation caused by the lower lid falling away from contact with the eye.